按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
corn； and； in the evening； when our work is done； we will sit on the bench before the door； and you will relate some of your beautiful little stories； and so we will live on together till we are old and die。〃
〃But you have forgotten one thing； Fritz。〃
〃What is that； Charles Henry？〃
〃You have forgotten that you will take a wife into your little house； and she will soon cast me out。〃
〃Let her try it！〃 cried Fritz； enraged； and doubling his flat threateningly。 〃Let her try only to show the door to Charles Henry； and I will shut her out； and she shall never returnnever！ But；〃 said he； softly； 〃it is not necessary to think of this； I will never take a wife。 We will live together； we need no third person to make strife between us。〃
Charles said nothing。 He looked smilingly into the glowing fire； and then at his comrade； with an amused but tender expression。
If Fritz had seen it； his heart would have bounded again； but he was too much occupied then with his own thoughts to look up。
〃Listen； Charles。 If nothing comes of our little piece of ground and our houseif my last ball comes to…morrow and carries me off〃
〃Stop； stop； Fritz； I will hold my head so that the same ball will carry it off！〃
〃If you do that； I will be very angry with you；〃 cried Fritz。 〃You are too young to die； and I will be glad even in my grave to know that you are walking on the green earth。 In order to do well； you must have gold； therefore you must be my heir。 If I fall； these beautiful gold pieces belong to you； you shall not put a tombstone over me。 Buy yourself a few acres； Charles Henry； and when your corn grows and blossoms； that shall be my monument。〃
Charles took his hand； and his eyes were filled with tears。 〃Speak no more of death；〃 said he； softly； 〃it makes my heart heavy； and I shall lose my courage in the battle to…morrow when I think of all you have said。 Ugh！ how cold it is！ My soul feels frosted！〃
〃I will go and seek a little more wood；〃 said Fritz； springing up； 〃and make a good fire； and then you shall be warmed。〃
He hurried off； and Charles remained alone by the tire； looking gravely on the glowing coals； he smiled from time to time； and then he breathed heavily； as if oppressed by some weighty secret。 Suddenly he heard a voice behind him。
〃Ah！ I have found the fire again！ Good…evening； children。〃
〃Good…evening； sir king。 Comrades； wake up； the king is here！〃
〃No； no； let your comrades sleep；〃 said the king； softly。 〃The fire will do me good。 I found the right path to the fire； as I said Your dragoons have uncovered my quarters； and the cold blasts of wind whistle through them and freeze the water in my room。 I prefer to sit by the fire and warm myself。〃 He was about to seat himself on the straw near the fire； when a harsh voice called out：
〃March on！every lazy scamp wants a place by the fire； but not one of them brings a splinter of wood。〃
Fritz Kober was behind them with the wood； he had found it with great difficulty； and he was angry when he saw a strange soldier in his place by the side of Charles Henry。
The king turned to him quietly。
〃You are right； my son！come on！ I will make room for you。〃
〃It is the king！〃 exclaimed Fritz； turning as if to fly。 But the king held him。
〃Remain where you are； my son； you brought the wood； and you have the best right。 I only wish to warm myself a little； and I think there is room for us all。〃
He seated himself upon the straw； and nodded to Fritz Kober to take a seat by him。 Fritz tremblingly obeyed； and Charles stirred the fire； which flamed up beautifully。
King Frederick gazed at the flickering flames。 Charles and Fritz sat on each side of him； and watched him in respectful silence； around the watch…fire lay the sleeping dragoons。 After a long pause the king raised his head and looked about him。
〃Well； children； to…morrow will be a hot day； and we must strike the Austrians boldly。〃
〃Yes； as we struck the French at Rossbach； your majesty；〃 said Fritz。 〃Mark me！ it will go off bravely； and when we are done with the Austrians we will march to Constantinople。〃
〃What will we do in Constantinople？〃 said the king。
〃Nothing； your majesty； but march there with you； whip the Turks； and take all their gold！〃
〃Not quite so fast； my son。〃
〃Why not； sir king？ We have chopped up the French army； to…morrow we will do the same for the Austrians； and then； why not whip the Turks？〃
The king smiled； and said： 〃Well； well； but first we must give the Austrians a good drubbing。〃
〃And； by my soul； we will do that；〃 said Fritz； eagerly。 〃Your majesty may believe meI will march with you to the end of the earth； and so will my friend Charles Buschman。 If we have only a little to eat； we will find water everywhere； so lead us where you will！〃
The king's eyes flashed： 〃By heaven！ it is a pleasure to lead such soldiers to battle！〃 Then turning； with a kindly expression； to Fritz Kober； he said： 〃Can you write？〃
〃Not well； your majesty； but Charles Henry Buschman can write much better than I。 He is a scholar。〃
〃Is that true？〃 said the king； gayly； to Charles。
〃He will say 'No；' sir king； he cannot bear to be praised。 But the truth remains； the truth even when deniedCharles is the bravest and wisest soldier in the army； and if there is justice in the world he will be made an officer。〃
〃You must get your commission first； Fritz；〃 said Charles； indifferently； 〃you earned it long ago； and if the king only knew all that you did at Rossbach； you would have it now。〃
〃What did he do？〃 said the king。
〃Nothing； your majesty；〃 said Fritz。
〃Yes； your majesty；〃 said Charles； zealously； 〃he hewed right and left until the sparks flew in every direction。 Our commander had told us the disgusting Frenchmen wanted to take our winter quarters； and even when Fritz Kober's sword was still whizzing among them； they had the insolence to cry out； 'Quartier！ quartier！'then was Fritz enraged； and cut them down like corn…stalks； and cried out； 'Yes； yes！ I will give you quarters； but they will be underground！'〃
〃Only think；〃 said Fritz； 〃they were flying before us； and the impudent scamps； when we captured them； would still twit us with the winter quarters they had intended to rob us of。 How could I help cutting them to pieces？〃
〃But he spared those who cried 'Pardon；' your majesty；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃he only took them prisoners。 Nine prisoners did Fritz Kober take at Rossbach。〃 ＇Footnote： The Prussians had been told that the Frenchmen intended to take possession of their winter quarters； and this enraged them greatly。 When the French cavalry were flying at Rossbach； they used the German word quartier； thinking they would be better understood。 The Prussians looked upon this as an insolent jest； and gave no quarter。Nicolai's Characteristics and Anecdotes ＇ 〃I suppose the five prisoners you took were men of straw； that you say nothing of them；〃 cried Fritz。
The king looked well pleased from one to the other。
〃It appears to me you are both brave soldiers； and the braver be cause you do not boast of your deeds。 Are you always such good friends as to seek to do each other kindly service？〃
〃Your majesty； Charles Henry is my truest friend； and if you wish to do me a service； make him an officer。〃
〃But be says he will not be made an officer unless you are made one； so there is nothing left for me to do but to promote both！ If in the battle to…morrow you fight like heroes； you shall both be made officers。 Now； children； be quiet； let me rest a little。 I do not want to sleepcannot you tell me some little story； some pretty little fairy tale to keep my heavy eyes from closing？〃
〃Charles knows many fairy tales； sir king； and if you command it he must relate one。〃
〃Oh； yes； your majesty； I know the history of a fairy who knew and loved the brave son of a king； and when the prince went into battle she transformed herself into a sword； that she might be always by the side of him she loved。〃
〃Tell me this pretty story； my son。〃
Charles Henry began to relate。 Deep silence reigned about the camp。 Here and there a word was spoken in sleep； a loud snore； or the neighing of a horse。 The fires were burned down； and the coals glowed like fire…f